And now, the end is near….
That sounds good. I should put it in a song.
That can wait, though. The real reason you’re reading this gibberish is to find out what the results are going to be on Saturday.
First up, Wales against Italy. Wales have scored 5 tries to Italy’s 4. That makes you think it might be close! Until you realise that Wales have conceded 7 to Italy’s 24. Which is a bit of a problem for Italy. (Nae shit, Sherlock). Italy played better against Scotland than they had in the other games, so is this the time they can back it up with another good performance? Probably not.
Wales have struggled a bit this year. Thumped by Ireland, scraped past Scotland, somehow losing to England despite scoring all the tries and never really looking like they would beat France. So, can Italy pull off a huge shock and get past Wales in Wales?
Let’s ask Predict-A-Bear!
Answer: Nah. Might be closer than expected, but probably Wales by 15.
Next up is Ireland against Scotland. (Sob). This was going to be The Year! The year to end (Way too many to count) Years Of Hurt! A brilliant start! And then everything turned Scottish. A disappointing – to say the least – defeat in Wales, thumped by France, then showing what we can do against Italy, before deciding that things were far too easy and that we should turn Scottish again.
Never mind, it’s only Ireland. The team that has been reinvigorated under Farrell The Elder. The team that beat the All Blacks. The team that thumped Wales, gave France their closest game so far and who managed to be disappointed in only scoring 57 points against 15, 14, 13, 12 man Italy. They have scored 20 tries to our 10, conceded 3 to our 11, Sexton’s on his Neverending Farewell Tour and have the might of Ulster (cheering them on from the sidelines).
So. Any hope for Scotland? Well … Ireland’s scrum looked strangely out of sorts against England. They also seemed a bit too rushed at times. And Finn bloody owes us one! So of course, Toonie sticks him on the bench. But probably none.
But let’s find out from Predict-A-Bear!
Answer: Nah. Much as I would love to be wrong, Ireland will win this fairly comfortably, by about 15 (at least). Can’t see us even getting any sort of bonus point. (Sobs again.)
Finally, the main event! France against England! France at home and going for a Grand Slam against a (fairly) average England team. (I mean, come on, WE beat them!) Eddie’s playing mind games again, although the only people he seems to confuse with these are his players. They have looked fairly toothless in attack (7 tries scored – and they’ve played Italy!), wonder boy Smith hasn’t quite lived up to the hype (but he will), the midfield has a Manu-sized hole (but then it frequently does) and Jack Nowell will probably end up hooking in the front row. And please (don’t) let Joe Marler take more throw ins. On the good side, Maro’s been a right annoying bastard on the pitch.
But France! They have everything: they can play tight; they can be expansive as (cliché alert) only France can. They have the best player in the world, and a few others who would probably be in a world XV, strength in depth and Shaun Edwards as defence coach. They haven’t perhaps scored quite as many tries as their play would suggest and had to tough it out against Wales.
So who will win?
Predict-A-Bear to the rescue!
Answer: A France win and Grand Slam!
Predict-A-Bear whispered sweet nothings into BorderBoy‘s ear.
Onna telly this week
Friday 18th March
| Bulls v Scarlets | 17:10 | BBC2 Wales / Premier Sports 2 |
| Glasgow v Edinburgh | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Newcastle v Leicester | 19:45 | BT Sport 2 |
Saturday 19th March
| Lions v Munster | 12:00 | RTÉ2 / Premier Sports 2 |
| Wales v Italy | 14:15 | BBC1 / iPlayer |
| Sharks v Zebre | 16:30 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Ireland v Scotland | 16:45 | ITV |
| France v England | 20:00 | ITV |
Sunday 20th March
| Stormers v Cardiff | 12:00 | S4C / Premier Sports 1 | ||
| Wales v Italy (U20s) | 14:00 | BBC1 Wales / iPlayer / Website | ||
| Ireland v Scotland (U20s) | 17:00 | BBC1 iPlayer / Website | ||
| France v England (U20s) | 20:00 | BBC1 iPlayer / Website |
Ovally Balls 
Enjoyed that clip just for the exchange:
“This is the look of a guy who’s going to kick himself in the nuts”
“That’s exactly what it is Steve”
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LOVE THIS:
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Peter Coffin (the ball kicking person) has continued doing that, but in more of a metaphorical sense nowadays.
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“the ball kicking person”
I’ll have to get The Middle One’s verdict on him then. If I were to guess then I’d go for “seems to take kicking balls more seriously than Finn Russell, but FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE!!!”.
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Living in the past but don’t know your history.
My posts were not living in the past – they were in response to the post about the antagonism/rivalry between the various provinces (as they were for the first 100-odd years) and franchises as they are today. The rivalries predate the modern era by decades and are entrenched in the rugby culture of South Africa. It’s really that simple.
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I can’t “like” posts on this system, so consider this a double like for the Grateful Dead song. They did two albums one after the other, Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty both recorded and released in 1970. They are two of my all time favourite albums and remind me of a carefree time in my life spent with stoner climbers in the Alps and Scotland.
Ripple is on the second of those LPs, and that is a terrific cover
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Superb support line by the #5 and gets his reward….
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Strangest thing about that Tweet is the source – Mike Quirke is an ex-Kerry footballer and basketballer and used to have a column in the Examiner – and tended to be a bit sneering about rugby
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I’ve seen weaker Scotland teams than this.
Immelman has been playing well of late after a pretty poor start, so he gets the nod meaning Boffelli moves to the wing and Moyano drops out of the 23 altogether.
It’s a big tight five and good ball carrying in the back row, plus pace to burn in the backline.
As they say it’s the hope that gets you, we’ll probably get pumped
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More for Deadheads:
Searching around that post I made last night I enjoyed watching some clips of the Dead in various concerts.
Their music formed part of existence in my 20s.
Watching one video I thought ‘blimey, their getting old’.
I checked the date – 1989 – made me feel a bit past it!
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Salde, I saw the Dead at Edinburgh Playhouse in 1981. I just looked that up because I couldn’t believe it was forty years ago!
There is a set list and recording of the gig (of course there is – they encouraged bootlegging). I liked this comment under the songs
‘I was at this show. At the interval we went to the very crowded bar. A large group of american sailors were there. One shouted out “imagine seeing the Dead in a place like edinboro”. Quick as a flash a loud scottish male voice shouted back “Ah’ll have you know we had Sheena Easton here last week!”‘
https://archive.org/details/gd81-09-30.sbd.jim.12229.sbeok.shnf/gd81-09-30d1t01.shn
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Lions have lost skipper Burger Odendaal and hooker Jaco Visagie to Covid protocols. Odendaal was excellent last week against the O’s, so that’s a big blow. Mannie Ras, his replacement, is a very good player though. Lions side below – the battle of the loose trios could well decide this match. The Tshituka brothers were immense last weekend and Francke Horn is solid enough, but it’ll be a big test against Bradbury, Watson and young Muncaster. Edinburgh definitely have the edge on the bench too.
15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Manuel Rass, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Francke Horn, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 PJ Botha, 1 JP Smith
Substitutes: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Ruan Venter, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Henco van Wyk, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel
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Thanks Deebee, I wish you’d posted before I had to copy and paste a dozen posts from a Lions fans forum into a Afrikaans to English translator to see what was what :-)
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Bulls – 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Subs: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Lionel Mapoe.
Ulster – 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Ben Moxham, 13 James Hume, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Ethan McIlroy, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Jordi Murphy, 5 Iain Henderson (c), 4 Kieran Treadwell, 3 Marty Moore, 2 Brad Roberts, 1 Andrew Warwick.
Subs: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Mick Kearney, 20 Matty Rea, 21 John Cooney, 22 Marcus Rea, 23 Stewart Moore.
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That Lions backline isn’t set up to play kick and chase. Mannie Rass is a player I’ve liked since he was at Paarl Boys. He reminds me of a shorter faster Nick Tompkins, an enthusiastic player but sometimes naive in defence.
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@deebee
Can you tell me all about this Simon Harmer fella? Looks suspiciously like the bloke who peddles his wares at Essex
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sometimes naive in defence.
An ongoing issue for the Lions in general. If they don’t get their attack spot on, they’re very vulnerable on the counter.
Bulls putting out a strong side. Love him or hate him, but Jake White is a very good, astute coach.
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OT – I believe we pinched him back from Essex with promises of riches beyond his wildest dreams. Watching him this afternoon, we really could have been a different side with him playing the last few years.
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Here you are peeps: – have a mellow weekend!
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Bonus play:
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Yes, can’t see such a youthful Lions side being able to beat a team packed with internationals like Edinburgh.
Just noticed Francke Horn in the team. That Paarl Boys side of 2016 was incredible – Moerat, lovely Gianni Lombard, Rass, Thaakir Abrahams and Daniel Jooster from the Sharks, plus the Big Number 8 whose name I can’t recall. Boeta Chamberlain maybe as well – definitely at the school but maybe a year too early for him.
Also, Henco van Wyk off the bench. He’s brilliant.
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Helluva kick by Bosch! Just tuned in with the Sharks 9-3 up after 25 minutes or so. If Curwin Bosch had Morne Steyn’s game management he’d be an all time great. So much skill, a booming boot and an eye for a gap, but loses the plot under pressure too often. Really hope he develops that side of his game.
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Retshegofaditswe Nche over for the first try of the game! Crikey, he took a few blokes with him. 16-3.
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@deebee
I was talking to our coach earlier this evening and mentioned his bowling figures to him. First thing he said was “well that’s Essex fucked”.
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Sharks forwards set up the driving maul and blast their way over again. Bongi you biscuit! Bosch with the extras and it’s suddenly 23-3.
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“Yes, can’t see such a youthful Lions side being able to beat a team packed with internationals like Edinburgh.”
Yes on paper that should be the case, but one we are talking about Edinburgh whose away form is dreadful and two they have only just flown in to Jo’burg.
It’s a gamble, the idea is that they are not there long enough for the altitude to take a toll.
We’ll see
I’d fancy we’d whack them at sea level at 18 degrees
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TOWIEF?
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Heatwave in Embra if it’s 18 degrees, Ticht?
It’s one of the great things about URC I think – our boys playing in freezing soaking rain and your boys having to cope with altitude and temps in the mid-30’s on occasion.
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I agree Deebee, the URC is a fantastic competition, I had my doubts at first and to be perfectly honest it was because I thought your four franchises would come in and batter everyone bar Leinster, the fact that it is closer than I thought and the different issues travelling teams face makes it great.
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Salve v Saries or Glasgow getting a BP before half time v Zebre?
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salve for fuck’s sakes
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Werner Kok showing some 7s magic to score the Sharks 3rd. I love Kok (behave, Karl) who is explosive on attack and defence. Really gives it everything, all game, and he has plenty to offer. 30-3
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shite, I’ve missed a Glasgow try already
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Dragons with a 5m penalty and drive from the lineout, but Ox and Bongi immovable and irresistible. Sharks looking really good tonight. Their fans (bar my brother in law) are still wankers though.
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Sure you can rewind the season’s highlights package, Ticht.
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Why are refs telling players to not put arms up when blocking on a bix kick?
There is nothing in the laws afaik
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Sharks appears to have scored again whilst I was pouring wine, and the Dragons got a bloke in the bin. 37-3. Lose the feed but it comes back to see Mapimpi powering through defenders and offloading to Mbonambi who almost gets over. Dragons gonna lose another for a slap down. Wow and a penalty try! Almost certainly would have been a try but by the strict letter of the law, not sure about that. 44-3
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Sharks ring the changes and bring on some bloke called Siya Kolisi.
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Sharks seem to have scored a fabulous try but the director decided to use the camera angle from behind the assistant ref, so we’ll never know how good it was. 51-3. Dragons haven’t given up but they’ve been out-muscled up front and burned for pace out wide.
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Glasgow with the BP on 33 mins, I made the right decision to watch Sale Sarries
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Sharks create a 3 on 1 overlap after some lovely skill by Bosch but comically blow it with the try line abegging. Not Bosch’s fault and he’s had a good game tonight albeit with an armchair ride from his forwards. It won’t have convinced his detractors that he’s got the BMT for higher honours.
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3rd yellow for Drags on the hooter. Sha4ks losecthec5m lineout andcthe ball is hacked into touch by a relieved Dragon. Their fire was comprehensively doused tonight.
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Deebee, I thought Sharks would take at least 50 off Drags tonight. They like to play wide but don’t seem to have the grunt or the defence to allow themselves to do it
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At times it was a complete physical mismatch, Ticht. Mbonambi got MoTM I think, but Ox Nche was my call, followed by Werner Kok and maybe Mapimpi, although he didn’t get that much ball.
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Deebs Kok and Bradbury had a good match up last week, lots of on field confrontations but when they walked off the park Kok gave Bradbury a lighthearted backhand slap to the guts and a smile
– good rugby, hard at it on the park, mates off it
The Sharks Embra match was played like that all through, good spirits
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Just watched it on a delayed showing on Irish telly. Moriarty had a really nasty injury at 9-3, unlikely that the Drags’d’ve come close but that really knocked the wind out of them at the half-hour mark.
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“It won’t have convinced his detractors that (Bosch)’s got the BMT for higher honours.”
I really really wouldn’t go on today’s game at the expense of his performance in last week’s match. He’s a lovely player to watch when he’s on song and always has been but if he’s not then it can get messy.
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@ticht
Don’t really follow Edinburgh or Glasgow sufficiently but I figured that the Irish provinces wouldn’t get blown away by the SA teams (least not at home – Munster were flagging in the 2nd half of that game vs the Lions). I was really enthusiastic about them joining…
Now with a full season after Covid under their belts, the SA teams are looking good….
Ultimately, can’t see a situation where the SA “provinces” play in the North and the Boks continue to play in the RC….
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